Method for mounting an undersea installation comprising at least one section of pipe, and associated installation

Abstract

A method has the following steps: a) providing an undersea foundation arranged on the bed of a body of water; b) laying a section of pipe and of an in-line structure on the foundation and allowing the section of pipe to freely self-orient on the foundation; c) placing at least one guide on the foundation on both sides of the section of pipe; d) blocking the guide on the foundation to laterally clamp the section of pipe with respect to the foundation, while authorizing a longitudinal movement of the section of pipe with respect to the guide.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for mounting an undersea installation including at least one in-line structure secured to a section of pipe, comprising:
 providing an undersea foundation arranged on a bed of a body of water; 
 laying the in-line structure and the section of pipe on the foundation while allowing the in-line structure and the section of pipe to freely self-orient on the foundation; 
 placing at least one guide on the foundation on both sides of the section of pipe; 
 setting the guide on the foundation to laterally clamp the section of pipe with respect to the foundation, while authorizing a longitudinal movement of the section of pipe with respect to the guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the placing of the at least one guide includes positioning a first lateral stop on one lateral side of the section of pipe and positioning a second lateral stop on a second lateral side of the section of pipe, and laterally clamping the section of pipe between the first lateral stop and the second lateral stop. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the blocking of the at least one guide includes locking the first lateral stop and the second lateral stop in position relative to the foundation. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the placing of the at least one guide includes clamping at least one intermediate stop positioned between the first lateral stop and the second lateral stop and on an upper bearing surface of the section of pipe. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one guide includes a support mounted on the foundation, each lateral stop being moved vertically in the support between an upper placement position of the section of pipe and a lower clamping position of the section of pipe. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after the placing of the at least one guide, a local angular configuration of the section of pipe relative to an axis of the foundation corresponds to a local angular configuration of the section of pipe before the placing of the at least one guide. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising, after placing the section of pipe on the foundation, placing at least one additional guide on the foundation on either side of the section of pipe and setting the additional guide to clamp the section of pipe relative to the foundation, while allowing a longitudinal movement of the section of pipe relative to the guide, the additional guide being spaced axially away from the at least one guide along the pipe. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the in-line structure bears on the foundation during the placement of the section of pipe on the foundation. 
     
     
       9. An undersea installation comprising:
 an undersea foundation arranged on a bed of a body of water; 
 at least one section of pipe and an in-line structure that are positioned on the undersea foundation; 
 at least one guide mounted on the foundation on either side of the section of pipe at locations to laterally block the section of pipe with respect to the foundation, while authorizing a longitudinal movement of the section of pipe with respect to the at least one guide, the at least one guide being configured to be placed after the placing of the section of pipe on the foundation. 
 
     
     
       10. The installation according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one guide includes a first lateral stop positioned on one lateral side of the section of pipe and a second lateral stop positioned on a second lateral side of the section of pipe, the section of pipe being laterally clamped between the first lateral stop and the second lateral stop. 
     
     
       11. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one guide includes at least one intermediate stop clamped between the first lateral stop and the second lateral stop and on an upper bearing surface of the section of pipe. 
     
     
       12. The installation according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one guide includes a support mounted on the foundation, each of the first and the second lateral stops being movable vertically in the support between an upper placement position of the section of pipe which permits placement of the section of the pipe on the support and a lower clamping position for clamping the section of pipe. 
     
     
       13. The installation according to  claim 9 , wherein the in-line structure bears on the foundation.